Stone Forest and Cuihu Lake Day Tour: Private with Lunch

Two of Yunnan's most visited sites in one day, without arranging transport yourself

A private day tour from Kunming to the Stone Forest (a UNESCO World Heritage Site 92 kilometers away), and Cuihu Lake, with an English-speaking guide, lunch, entrance fees and battery car access included. The tour runs 7 to 8 hours and picks you up from your hotel. You travel in a private vehicle with up to two bottles of water per person.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Stone Forest and Cuihu Lake

• Travel to Kunming Stone Forest
• Explore Stone Forest rock formations
• Visit Cuihu Lake urban park
• Walk across bridges linking ponds
• Enjoy seasonal flowers and scenery

The experience

The Stone Forest is the centerpiece: tall rock formations rise from the ground like petrified trees, creating the illusion of a forest turned to stone. It sits about 92 kilometers from Kunming city and draws visitors from across the world. A battery car takes you through the site so you cover the main formations without walking the full distance. Your guide speaks English and explains what you're seeing as you move through the rocks.

After the Stone Forest, you head to Cuihu Lake: also called Jade Lake because of its green water. It's an urban park established in the 17th century on the west side of Wuhua Mountain, with four small ponds linked by bridges and traditional pavilions scattered through the grounds. The lake changes with the seasons: in winter, Black-headed Gulls from Siberia arrive to spend the season there, and each season brings different flowers. Locals and tourists both come here daily, so you'll see how the site fits into everyday Kunming life.

Lunch is included during the day. Your hotel pickup is arranged, and the private vehicle means you don't coordinate with other travelers or wait for group departures. The entrance fees to both sites and the battery car at the Stone Forest are covered, so the main costs are settled before you go.

What’s included

• Private transportation from your hotel.
• English-speaking guide for the full day.
• entrance fees to the Stone Forest and Cuihu Lake.
• battery car access at the Stone Forest.
• lunch.
• two bottles of water per person.

Options for this experience

2 options

Private full-day trip from Kunming to the Stone Forest and Cuihu Lake, lunch includedGuide in English · 08:30 and 09:00Pickup is included

Only private transferGuide in English · 08:30, 09:00 and 09:30No guide, lunch or ticket: this option covers only a private transfer, with no guide, no entrance fee and no lunch. The driver will pick you up and drop you off. Pickup is included

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30, 09:00 and 09:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Youth (7 to 11 years) · Child (3 to 6 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by China Kongfu Panda tour

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to combine the Stone Forest and Cuihu Lake in one trip. The private vehicle lets you set your own pace between the two sites rather than follow a fixed group schedule.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (7 to 11 years); Child (3 to 6 years); Infant (under 3): free.

How far is the Stone Forest from Kunming, and what makes it worth the trip?

The Stone Forest sits 92 kilometers from Kunming and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tall rocks rise from the ground in formations that resemble stalagmites or petrified trees, creating the illusion of a forest made of stone. It's considered so important to the Yunnan region that locals say visiting Kunming without seeing it means you haven't really been to Yunnan.

What will I see at Cuihu Lake, and does it change by season?

Cuihu Lake, also called Jade Lake for its green water, is an urban park with four small ponds linked by bridges and traditional pavilions. Each season looks different: in winter, Black-headed Gulls from Siberia spend the season there, and throughout the year different flowers bloom, so the landscape shifts with the time of year you visit.

How long does this tour take, and what's included in the price?

The tour runs 7 to 8 hours from pickup to return. Included are private transportation, an English-speaking guide, lunch, entrance fees to both the Stone Forest and Cuihu Lake, a battery car ride through the Stone Forest, and two bottles of water per person.

Do I need to walk a lot at the Stone Forest?

A battery car takes you through the Stone Forest, so you see the main rock formations without walking the full distance. The vehicle covers the site while your guide explains what you're seeing.